Victoria's Super Pharmacies

The Victorian government has announced the opening of tenders to deliver the its Super Pharmacies Initiative creating five 24-hour, 7-day-a-week pharmacies by June 2016, as the first stage of a lan to deliver 20 Super Pharmacies by 2018.

The pharmacies will provide 24/7 services with a nurse present 6 to 10 pm daily to deliver “basic care, face-to-face advice and treatment for minor injury and illness.  “The Government recognises community pharmacies have a trusted role in the healthcare system at a local level and are well placed to accommodate additional assessment and treatment services in a safe environment,” Minister for Health Jill Hennessy said.  “This service will help ease the pressure on hospital staff – allowing doctors and nurses to concentrate on treating the sickest patients presenting in hospital emergency departments,” she added.

Other initiatives announced would see pharmacists deliver flu and adult whooping cough vaccinations and manage patients with chronic diseases, in partnership with GPs.  Flu vaccines in pharmacies commence next year and whooping cough for adults in 2017, Hennessy said, pointing out that eligible adults will be able to access the vaccines under the National Immunisation Program and Victorian Government’s Parent Whooping Cough Vaccine Program from their pharmacist.

Further, the two-year Pharmacist Chronic Disease Management pilot program will see pharmacists and GPs in three trial locations working together to help patients manage their chronic illnesses and medications, under a GP care plan. 

The Victorian Branch of the Pharmacy Guild has welcomed the announcement, with branch president Anthony Tassone saying these initiatives are a step in the right direction with pharmacists available, equipped and open to playing a greater role in the primary healthcare team.  PSA National President hailed the move, saying the initiatives are a “sensible policy response to growing healthcare problems, including falling vaccination rates
and the increasing burden of chronic disease”.

Source:pharmacydaily.com.au, Friday 27 November 2015